"He's what?"

"He's gone… again, sir."  Tom was as frustrated as Chakotay.

The two men sighed loudly in unison as Tom stood in front of Chakotay's desk.  It was enough to make them both laugh and relax a bit.

"Sit down, Tom.  It's not your fault.  How many people from security did you take along this time?"

"Six, complete with every type of portable scanning equipment we have on board.  He just wasn't there."  Tom sat in the chair across from Chakotay glad that the ranks had been dropped.  He much preferred an informal atmosphere when he had very little to report and none of it encouraging.

"How many cities has he been in so far?"

"This is the fifth that we know about in the last six days."

Chakotay sighed again and leaned his forehead on his hands.  Kathryn's pet was getting to be a real nuisance.  The little man was bright and cheerful but tended to get into the wrong place on every planet he stepped foot.  Neelix had beamed down to a city on the eastern coast of one of six small continents of Euclidia.  He was supposed to be gone no more than six hours; he had now been gone more than six days with no explanation.

"You're sure he never mentioned staying here or traveling around the planet?"  Chakotay was grasping at straws.  Between caring for a growing infant, the hustle and bustle of a busy planet, and disrupted schedules as the crew took some much needed shore leave, Kathryn had not noticed Neelix's absence.  He did not look forward to explaining to her that the little man was missing.

"Not a word, Chakotay.  And I know he knows he can leave Voyager whenever he wants.  He wanted to stay on Zselozsiag but they wouldn't issue him immigration papers."

"I thought they needed settlers."

"So did I, but I didn't ask why they didn't want him.  At any rate, he knows he can leave so there is no reason for him to just disappear."

"Tell me again what we know."

"Ok.  He started out in Egzret on the east coast.  Only when he was late reporting back from his leave did Security try to locate him.  They couldn't for nearly fourteen hours.  Then suddenly, they received a signal from his comm badge from Grezsli on the west coast.  He didn't move more than three meters for about an hour and he didn't answer any hails.  Then just as suddenly, Security lost his signal. This time it was nearly thirty hours before they picked up the signal again but that time from Flufzi on another continent.  The same as before – he didn't move around and he didn't respond to the hail.  Then the signal disappeared again just as abruptly.  He's been in a total of five cities in the last six days and we have not been able to track him between the cities.  We've sent teams down to the last three locations but haven't been able to find him before losing the signal again."

"There is nothing to link those locations?"

"Well, Billings was on two of the teams and noticed that they were near the main transportation hubs in both those cities.  She is checking to see whether there were hubs near his other known locations."

"How soon will she have a report?"

"I'd guess about thirty minutes."  Tom glanced at his watch and then flushed as his stomach growled.  Chakotay looked up and checked the time as well.  He had promised to meet Kathryn for lunch in their quarters so they could spend some time with Taylor.  If he was late, he would have to explain why and he wasn't ready to do that until he knew what was going on.  He suspected Tom had made a similar promise to B'Elanna.  It wasn't often they could afford the luxury of actually taking some time over lunch and they should all take advantage of it.

"Look, tell her to get some lunch and do the report up properly.  She can meet us back here at 13:30."

"Aye, sir."

Chakotay was waiting his office for Tom and Billings who signaled for admission promptly at 13:30.

"Enter."  Chakotay looked up as they walked in and motioned them to sit.  "Tell me what you have learned, Sandra."

"Not a lot, sir.  We did confirm that all of Neelix's know locations have been very near main transportation hubs for the city.  The nearest analogy I could find is from the late 20th and early 21st century Earth.  They had underground systems called subways.  Euclidia has a similar system but it is much larger and more complex.  The tunnels they use are nearly 2000 meters deep in most places and only at the stations do they approach the surface.  From what I could learn, the vehicles use strong electromagnets as the source of propulsion.  Those magnets combined with the depth of the tunnels appear to be blocking our ability to track Neelix.  His location and the timing coincide with the same vehicle.  If he is on that vehicle, he should appear in Nzdekz at 14:40."

The three discussed Billings' report for about fifteen minutes before Chakotay dismissed her.  He turned to Tom.  "Let Tuvok know we'll be taking a security team to the planet in about half an hour and that he should be prepared to focus scans on the transportation hub in Nzdekz at 14:40."

"Aye, sir."  As Tom left, he heard Chakotay open a channel to the captain. He would have liked to hear that conversation.

A very irritated captain stalked into the main transporter room at 14:20.  The three members of the security team present terminated their conversation as Chakotay greeted the captain.  Only Chakotay knew just how irritated she was.  Not only had one of her crew gone missing on Euclidia, her senior staff had taken more than six days to advise her that Neelix was missing, she had been forced to enlist the aid of the inhabitants to find him and but to top it off, she had failed to notice his absence during that time.  Not a favorable combination of events to tell a sleep deprived mother of a cranky nine-month old baby.

"Captain, we're ready to beam down.  There should be at least one member of the city's government waiting as well as a representative of the business operating the transit system."

"Were they upset at our request?"

"Not at all, Captain.  In fact, they didn't even seem surprised. "

Kathryn glanced at Chakotay as if challenging his sanity but he calmly met her gaze and nodded slightly as they stepped onto the transporter pads.  Knowing the officials weren't upset helped slightly.

There were two people waiting for them when they materialized near the entrance of Nzdekz's transit station. The woman stepped forward.

"Hello.  I'm Syllita the Assistant Director of Transportation for the city of Nzdekz.  This is Kalvon, the Regional Director of Personnel and Recruiting for Trans-Euclidia."

"I'm Kathryn Janeway, captain of Voyager and this is Chakotay my first officer.  Thank you for agreeing to help us locate our missing crewman."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain.  Let's step inside.  There is a café that is quite pleasant where we can talk."

"As much as I would like to talk with you and Syllita, we really need to locate Neelix.  If he isn't on the transit, we will have to search for him elsewhere."

"Oh, he's on the transit.  I was able to confirm that as soon as Syllita advised me of your problem."  Kalvon's tone and his calm attitude made it clear that he was convinced that Neelix was indeed on the transit so Kathryn followed them to the café.  They found a table away from the entrance.  Syllita insisted on ordering beverages for them all.

"If you will pardon me, Kalvon, but you seem quite unconcerned about this.  I also find your position a curious one to be assisting in our search."  Chakotay found their casualness about the situation quite inexplicable and had no idea why a transit company would send someone from personnel to investigate a missing person.

"I think when I've explained the situation, it will all be quite clear to you.  You are aware that we have an extensive subterranean transit system, I think?"  Kathryn and Chakotay both nodded.  "Our system is not a local system but covers all of Euclidia.  As with most systems we have heard about, this one operates on a regular schedule and the individuals who pilot the transits and maintain them work on schedules that are just as regular.  Approximately 85% of our schedules return an employee to the same city every one or two days.  Another 10% of the schedules return an employee to return to the same city every five or six days.  The remaining 5% of our schedules do not bring an employee to the same city for more than twenty days.

"Those employees actually live on the transit and are given a day of rest every five days but always in a different city.  They usually choose to live on the transit.  That is an option available to all our employees working on a long-term scheduled transit but most choose not to take advantage of it."

"This is all very interesting, Kalvon, but I fail to see how it relates to our missing crewman."  Kathryn had been patient but was all too aware that the transit they needed to check was due to arrive in a few minutes.

"I assure you, Captain, when I have finished, it will be quite clear."  Kalvon had noticed her increasing agitation.  "Do not concern yourself with the time.  The transit has a scheduled break here.  It will not depart for twelve hours.  Now where was I?  Oh, yes.

"We pay our employees very well especially those on the less attractive schedules.  Family is very important on Euclidia and many prefer lower paying positions that allow them to remain with their families.  For that reason we have difficulty recruiting people to work on those extended transit routes.

"Euclidia has a very old but still binding law about debts.  Any money owed by a person who is unable to pay may be repaid by labor, if the individual owed so chooses.  The one in debt may decline but ten years in prison is usually considered the lesser of the evils.  Our company frequently chooses to have people who owe us money repay us by working on the transit routes."

"Are you saying Neelix owes your company money?  How could that have happened?"

"Quite easily if he was unfamiliar with our transit system which he apparently was.  The basic fair is for a seat in a standing room only car.  Once you are on board, any one may move to a car with a seat and pay an additional fee.  There are also dining and sleeping cars, each which require an additional fee.  These additional fees can be paid before boarding the transit or on the transit.  Neelix paid only the basic fee before boarding but moved to a car with a seat and then went to the dining car for a meal.  He had insufficient funds to pay the additional charges so he was detained on the transit.

"Employees on the transit contacted my department and we advised them that we would expect him to work off the amounts owed.  That's what he has been doing for the last few days.  There is a sum deducted for providing him with living accommodations and food so he is slowly working his way out of debt while learning a new trade."

"Are you telling me Neelix is an employee of your company?"

"Technically, no.  He's merely working off a debt at the moment but if he wants to continue the arrangement after the debt is paid, he will be."

"You're willing to hire him without any additional information about him and his work record?"

"He's been on that transit for six days and working for the last five. We have a great deal of information about him already. He's a very chatty person."

"Well, that information may not all be quite accurate."

"We know that. We put one of my people on the train a few days ago when we realized that he is prone to exaggerating his contributions and omitting some of the problems he's encountered. We are pretty good at distinguishing real problems from those we can handle. He'll do fine for us. Although we wouldn't have requested it if you hadn't contacted us, any information you can provide would be appreciated as well as any type of recommendation you would be willing to give. It won't hurt his employment in any way and might make him eligible for a pay increase sooner than if we don't have it."

Kathryn nodded slightly to Chakotay. "I'll see that you get a summary before we leave, Kalvon."

"Thank you, Commander. It's nice to have some information about our employees."

"Will he have any problems with immigration requirements?"

"None. As long as our company is willing to hire him and commit to keeping him employed for the next ten years, there is just the formality of paperwork. I didn't check, but I imagine that most of that has been completed already."

"Well, Captain, it sounds to me like Neelix has found a new home if he wants it." Chakotay turned back to Syllita and Kalvon. "Is there someway we can talk to him during this break?"

"Of course." Syllita spoke up. "We've asked the station employees to make sure one of them brings him up here as soon as the passengers are off and the transit is on its siding. They should be along shortly."

The four chatted about the Euclidian culture and Kalvon insisted on ordering what seemed to be a sampler of the café's appetizers for them to try. Both Kathryn and Chakotay found them to have a bitter tang to them. Upon inquiry, they learned that it was from a very popular and very expensive imported plant – leola root. They smile and exchanged glances.

As they were finishing the food, Neelix and another man approached the café, both wearing some sort of uniform. The smile and look of pride on Neelix's face told them what they needed before he reached them.  The man made sure Neelix had seen the four and then turned to return to his work. Neelix bustled over.

"Captain, Commander.  I was going to try to contact you during this break. I have so much to tell you. Can you believe they want me to work for them? They need me and my skills. Isn't that wonderful?"

"Slow down, Neelix." Kathryn stopped the flow of words from the little man. "We've been quite worried about you, you know."

"I'm sorry, Captain, but I just had no time to get to a communications terminal and my comm badge is broken."

"It's not broken, Neelix. The transit tunnels were too deep for your signal to reach Voyager." Chakotay stopped the chatter that time. "This is Syllita, the Assistant Director of Transportation for the city of Nzdekz.  This is Kalvon, the Regional Director of Personnel and Recruiting for Trans-Euclidia. They've been telling us about the hiring practices of the transit company."

"Isn't it a wonderful way to find a job? You just get on a train and they ask you to work for them. Wonderful, simply wonderful."

"You really want this job, Neelix?"

"Oh, yes, Captain. They need me." Neelix stopped and considered how that sounded. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but you don't really need me on Voyager. I know not very many people on Euclidia would want this job but it's one I can do and I like it. I've made a few friends already and in time, I'll get to know all the company employees at all the stations. I'll get twenty days vacation every year and can travel anywhere on the planet free. I'll be able to save most of my money because I'll live on the transit and in ten or twelve years, I'll have enough seniority to get a route that lets me settle down in my own house. As soon as I've finished paying off my debt, I'll start earning money for my retirement, too. This is a good thing for me, Captain, and I do want to stay."

"How much does he still owe your company, Kalvon?"

"Fifty clidis."

"You have that much left from our leave, Chakotay?"

Chakotay dug around in his pocket and pulled out some coins and laid them on the table in front of Kalvon.

"There you go, Neelix. Your debt is paid. Kalvon?" Kathryn turned to the personnel director and waited for him to speak.

"You want the job, Neelix?" Kalvon directed his question to Neelix.

"Yes, sir, I do."

Kalvon smiled and held out his hand. "Welcome to Trans-Euclidia. Why don't you get your personal effects from Voyager and then come to my office and we'll finish the paperwork?"

"Yes, sir."

Kathryn and Chakotay stood and shook hands with Syllita and Kalvon and made their farewells.

Later that night when Taylor had finally settled to sleep, Kathryn and Chakotay sat enjoying a last cup of tea before going to bed. Kathryn leaned against him, allowing herself to enjoy their time together.

"You're going to miss him, aren't you?" Chakotay's voice was soft.

"A little. I have to admit that Taylor is taking up most of my free time and attention when I'm not on duty."

"Mine, too. This was the right job for him. They know his weaknesses and they aren't a problem in that job and he's happy." Kathryn yawned as Chakotay finished speaking. He stood and pulled her to her feet. "Come on, we both need some sleep."

"Speaking of sleep, I'm on duty in the morning so you get to deal with the 02:00 feeding. Taylor's bottle is in stasis so all you have to do is feed her."

"I know the routine, Kathryn."

"Just making sure you don't have an excuse to wake me when she cries."

"If I decide to wake you in the middle of the night, it won't be because our daughter is hungry. I promise."

Kathryn met his smile with sleepy eyes.

"I'm too tired to take you up on that tonight, Chakotay, but don't count on sleeping late in the morning even if you are off duty."